Precious metal trap



May 30, 41950 c. J. APABLASA PRECIOUS METAL TRAP Filed June 27, 1946 Patented May 30, 1950 UNITED STATES PATNT QFFHCE PRECIOUS METAL TRAP Cayetano J. Apablasa, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application .l une 27, 1946, Serial No. 679,603

10 Claims. 1

This invention is a precious metal trap for use in conjunction with dental cuspidors.

An object of the invention is to provide a precious metal recovery device of simple and inexpensive construction and which :may be used as an independent unit in connection with a standard type of dental cuspidor so as to operate in association therewith.

A further object of the invention is to provide a precious metal trap so constructed and equipped as to collect from liquids passing therethrough, all precious metals and materials and to retain the same after the liquids have been drained therefrom so that they may be recovered for further use.

A further object of the invention is to provide a trap of the character thus generally stated which is of extremely simple construction, which is composed of but few readily assembled parts, which has its baffling or separating elements so constructed and associated within the trap as to separate the solids from the liquids, which may be readily operated to remove the trap from the cuspidor for metal recovery purposes, which has its parts so constructed and assembled as to minimize the opportunity for breakage or derangement of the same, and which will prove highly practical and efficient in operation.

With the foregoing objects is view, together with others which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts, all as will be described more fully hereinafter, illustrated in the drawing, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a vertical elevation illustrating a precious metal trap unit constructed in accordance with the invention,

Fig. 2 is a top plan View thereof,

Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal sectional View taken through the trap and showing the baliling and partition elements in elevation,

Fig. 4 is a View similar to and taken at right angles to Fig. 3,

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view taken through the precious metal trap, and

Fig. 6 is a top plan View of the false bottom for the collection chamber.

The invention here disclosed is closely related to the device of my invention disclosed by my prior Patent No. 2,083,485, dated June 8, 1937. In the patent aforesaid, reliance for the recovery of precious metals is placed upon an amalgamation chamber at the base of the trap, while in Z the present instance the amalgamation chamber is dispensed with and the precious metals or solids carried by the iluids passing through the trap are retained largely by the baffling elements.

In the drawing, I9 indicates a casing preferably of cylindrical form, open at both ends and having radiating from the lower portion thereof pins H to engage in and interlock with bayonet slots l 2 in the upper edges of a frusto conical base constituting a collection chamber I3. This base is reduced in size so as to enable it to accommodate itself within a standard type dental cuspidor, as will be understood.

The upper end of the casing `IU is normally closed by a cover I4 having an upstanding grip I5 by means of which the cover may be removed from or applied to the casing. This cover is provided with inlet openings i6 through which liquids in the cuspidor may pass to the interior of the casing l0.

Depending centrally from the cover M isa partition element I'i. axially and downwardly through the casing lll and disposed diametrically thereof, dividing the said casing into separate chambers as shown. The lower end of the partition l1 may be provided with offset lugs I3 to be engaged beneath pins I9 projecting inwardly from the walls of casing i0 whereby the partition may be locked securely inV position within the casing.

These battles are sides of the partition upon each side thereof, and

- the baffles on each partition side will be disposed in staggered alternating relationship. vThe baliles incline in a downward direction and have their lower ends terminate in spaced relation to the adjacent portion of the casing so that liquids will flow over the lower ends of the said baies and onto the upper surfaces of the succeeding underlying bailies, taking a Zig-Zag or tortuous course from the top to the bottom of the casing. Each of the baffle members 2i) may include a solid strip shaped so as to snugly engage with the casing side at its upper edge and throughout the entire length of the baille so that liquids passing into the trap must of necessity pass over the surfaces of the baffle members.

The collection elements constitute collection plates indicated at 2 l These plates are of foraminous construction, and lie flat upon the upper surfaces of each of the baffle members 20. These plates are preferably of thin metal provided with spaced perforations indicated at 22, the lower end This partition is disposedl posed n or partition element 21, adaptedr to substantially align with the partitionmembers l1 of the casing I0. The side walls of the'colle tion chamber |13 are provided'with liquidoutlets represented at 28, one of which outlets communicates with the chamber upon each side Yoi the partition 21.

Inoperation, the collection chamber'iis secured-'tothe lower en'd ofthe casing bythe pin and ibayonetV slot arrangement as described, whereupon the top I4 with4 its dependent partition "and baffles is inserted'and locked in 'position by "a slight"rotative lmovement to engage the elements -liiwith the inwardly projecting pins' '19.v Thus assembled, the trap is placed withinth'e 'outlet opening of the standard dental cuspidor. Liquids pass from4 the cuspidor into the casing through the openings it. In. their downward flow; theliquidsstrike the bafes in the two compartments and'pass 'from one to the* other 'in'their downward movement in a `zig-Zag or sinuous course. Solids, such vas precious metals. contacting Ythe foraminous collector platessupportedby the baflies will be collected within they openings and retained therein. Such solids as may'happen to pass entirely through the baffle structure will be collected by thestrainer ornalsebottorn.Z4;` the liquids, freed of all solids, passingffrom the collection chamber through the -openings 28 andinto the' cuspidor drain.

Recovery of the .solids thus retainedr by the trapis made by removing. the trap bodily fromV the ,cuspidor drainandrby detaching the several sections `of the trap. ,It will be found that most of-.the solids Apassing into .the trap will have been collected and retained within. thev vnumerous openings in the collector plates carried `by .the bafeslll. These collectorplates may A.be very easily withdrawn Vfromthe baffles by .withdrawing the .iingers 23 vfrom engagement with .the edges thereof. When the precious Vmetals have thus been recovered;y vthe vcollector plates are again applied to the `bailie members, the parts .reasu sembled and v,the trap placed in the -cuspidorf drain-f or ,furtherfuse From "the foregoing it isapparentthatlhave provided'aprecious .metal trap of such'construction as to A'insurerecovery-of all-solids, however minute, passinginto. the -trap,and without `resort'to the am-alagamationchamber as-has beenV heretofore contemplated.

I telaim 1. A .precious metal trap ycomprising `a v casing having an inletzatoneendandan outlet at the other, a plurality of bailles in said casing. disposed. inpositionsto vbe engaged by and to. retard theI owof iliquidpassing throughthe casing, and ha collector plate .secured to each of said baflesx'and covering r.the latter, each collector platelhavingv openings .extending entirely through the saine.

2. A precious metal trap comprising a casing having an inlet at one end and an outlet at the other, a plurality of baiiles in said casing disposed in positions to be engaged by and to re tard the ilow of liquid passing through the casing, and a collector plate removably secured to each of said bales and covering the latter, said plates having openings therein communicating with said bailes.

3. -A precious metal trap comprising a casing having an inlet at one end and an outlet at the other, a plurality of baffles in said casing disposed in positions to be engaged by and to retardthefiiow of liquid passing through the casing, and a collector plate removably secured to -eachofsaid bafiies and disposed upon the upper face thereon said collector plates having openings extending entirely through the same and said plates entirely covering said baffles.

4. A precious metal trap comprising a casing having1an1inletat one-end. and an outlet atthe other, a plurality-.oibaies fina said casing disposedin positions-to'fbe engagedby'and to retard the ilow ofliquidfpassing throughethe Icasing,fafcollector plate: overlying each oisaidbailies,

said collector plates `having lpockets to retainprecious metals. a resilientretaining nger on each of said plates engageableover an edge of its respective'bafiie to hold the same rigid upon but removable from said baille.

5. A precious metaltrap comprising a cylindrical casinghaving an inlet opening at its upper end, `*a `rcollection Achamber at the lowerendv of said `casing -in communication withthe'latter, baffles arranged in staggered relation within said casing-disposed Ain positions lto be engaged by andfto retard the ilow of `liquid passing'through the casing, collector plates supported by and overlyingfea'ch of said baffles, said collector plates having pockets therein to retain precious metal,

a rvretricu-lated `false bottom `in said -collectionV chamber, and anoutletfor said collectionA chamber `above saidfalse bottom;

6. Arpreoiousmetal trap comprisingV a cylin-v upon said baiiles, said plates having means there on to retain precious metals, and said collection chamber having anoutlet therein.

"7. A precious metal trap Acomprising a cylindrical casing open at both ends, `a coverv for the upper end of said casing having inlet openings therein, a partition.member` carried by said cover and vextending axially through said casing and.

diametrically across the same to divide the casing into separate passages, baille members carried by said partition and disposed instag'gered relation within each of said.passages,.collection plates removably secured to the upper faces of eachofsaid bal'lles, means in said plates for the retention of precious metals, a collection chamberremovably securedito the lower end of said casing, a-false bottom removably supported within .said lcollection chamber. va partition vprojecting..upwardly from said .false bottom and insubstantial alignment with the partition supported by :said ecover, and .-said .collection chamber having outlet openings in its sides disposed above said false bottom.

8. A precious metal trap comprising a cylindrical casing having an inlet at its top and an outlet at its bottom, a partition extending axially through said casing and diametrically across the same to divide the casing into separate passages, bafiie members secured to said partition and disposed in staggered relation in each of said passages and disposed in positions to be engaged by and to retard the ow of liquid passing through the casing, collector plates lying iiat upon said baffles and having spaced openings extending entirely through the same, and means for detachably securing said collector plates upon said baiies.

9. A precious metal trap comprising a cylindrical casing open at its upper end and having an outlet near its bottom, a cover for said Cas ing having inlet openings therein, a partition carried by and depending from said cover and dividing said casing into separate passage, bailles secured to each side of said partition and arranged in staggered relation in said passages to be engaged by and to retard the flow of liquid passing through said passages, and a collector plate removably secured to the upper face of each of said baffles and covering the latter.

10. A precious metal trap comprising a cylindrical casing open at its upper end and having an outlet near its bottom, a cover for said casn ing having inlet openings therein, a partition carried by and depending from said cover and dividing said casing into separate passages, bafes secured to each side of said partition and arranged in staggered relation in said passages to be engaged by and to retard the flow of liquid passing through said passages, and a collector plate removably secured to the upper face of each of said baffles and covering the latter, each of said plates having a plurality of openings therein communicating with the underlying baiile.

CAYETANO J. APABLASA.

REFERENCES CTED The following references are of record. in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 751,038 Wollaston Feb. 2, 1904 1,088,416 Guilford Feb. 24, 1914 1,265,898 Figg May 14, 1918 1,609,856 Blackman Dec. 7, 1926 1,623,728 Hooton Apr, 5, 1927 1,635,845 Holford July 12, 1927 2,083,485 Apablasa June 8, 1937 2,207,399 Gaertner July 9, 1949 2,230,386 Pecker Feb. 4, 1941 

1. A PRECIOUS METAL TRAP COMPRISING A CASING HAVING AN INLET AT ONE END AND AN OUTLET AT THE OTHER, A PLURALITY OF BAFFIES IN SAID CASING DISPOSED IN POSITIONS TO BE ENGAGED BY AND TO RETARD THE FLOW OF LIQUID PASSING THROUGH THE CASING, AND A COLLECTOR PLATE SECURED TO EACH OF SAID BAFFIES AND COVERING THE LATTER, EACH COLLECTOR PLATE HAVING OPENINGS EXTENDING ENTIRELY THROUGH THE SAME. 